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A grandfather’s concern

While enjoying a family Thanksgiving dinner, I thought how fortunate I am to have lived in the best of times over more than 75 years. But I wondered what my generation is leaving behind in relation to climate change.

Letters to the editor Nov. 1, 2018Back to video

My grandchildren, now in their teens, could very well live into the 22nd century. With no action on climate change, they will face unprecedented environmental challenges. The evidence is clear.

The United Nations reports that global warming will result in more intense and frequent events, such as coastal inundation, wildfires, hurricanes, droughts, tornadoes, floods, etc., all with devastating consequences and massive costs. We are seeing the beginnings of this in real time — today.

The Trudeau government has put in place a tax on pollution to increase the price of gasoline by less than 10 per cent, or 11 cents a litre, over five years. Rebates will be provided to families to mitigate cost increases that will be passed on to consumers from taxation on significant greenhouse gas emitters.

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Conservative politicians at provincial and federal levels are opposing the Liberal plan. But they have no plan of their own. Extremely short-sighted!

For me, it’s about the world my grandchildren will live in. With no action, the hurricanes, floods, droughts, wildfires, cyclones, tornadoes, etc. we experience today are almost certainly a Sunday picnic compared to what they will face. I want them to enjoy a livable climate.

Putting a price on pollution is a great idea that deserves our support — for our grandchildren’s sake.

Herve Langlois

Saskatoon

Government enforced vigilantism

Jim Reiter, when he was minister responsible for municipalities, created thousands of vigilantes. In November 2015 he pushed the oversight of the Municipalities Act, or ACT, onto the Ombudsman. But before doing that the Sask. Party enacted a new Ombudsman Act. One of its sections lets the Ombudsman opt out if it feels there is an alternative remedy in another act. Of course, the wording is so vast anything can qualify. In the Ombudsman’s Report of 2017 it said 110 complaints came from those villages with populations of less than 200.

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So, if a council in any of the very small villages — there are 200 of them — mishandles money, according to the ACT the residents have to get a petition, but the council does not have to abide by it. Then the only other route is to take those members to court. That costs about $15,000 and it comes out of the homeowners’ very empty pockets.

Of course the minister can get involved as set out in sections of the ACT, but with an election coming up, best not to cause any waves in their best backers’ backyard. So, it’s time for (Government Relations Minister) Warren Keading to help voters in small villages as well as RMs.

Roger Wowk

Milden

SHARE YOUR VIEWS

The StarPhoenix welcomes letters, which are limited to 250 words and must include the writer’s name, street address and phone number.

Submissions will be verified and edited before publication. We publish the names and community of all letter writers. Do not send email attachments. Writing more than one letter a month is discouraged and “open” letters are not accepted. Send to: 204 Fifth Ave. N., Saskatoon, Sask., S7K 2P1

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